Package opener device



Oct. 5, 1943. I Q q LEHMER 2,331,204

PACKAGE OPENER DEVICE File d Dec. 16. 1941 CMrlas av w g/flaw.

ATTORNEYS vice designed to efiect quick a Patented Oct. 5, -1 943-rAokaGE orENE DEVICE- I I Charles CfLehmer, Salt Lake City, Utah 3 fApplication netemper 16, 19 41,':Scri al No. cgazisi g z 7 (o1,'22a- -51The present invention relates tofnewand useful improvementsindevicesior'opening packages- An'ob'ject of the invention is to provideadeopeningof a package. I

Another object of the invention-1s fireprovision of a device adapted tobe'jcarried' within a package "forcutting a slit in the corner thereofto enable ,opening of the package for] removal ofthe contents. 9 f 1 Afurther object of the invention is to provide a device embodying" aguid' formin'g support member adapted to be fitted wit hin-a" packageand a cutter carried cn' the said "suppt' rt. sdthat it may be pulledfrorrfthe guide?tlriroughkithe package wrapper for cutting slitsin thepackage to forin'anopeningl' Still another object of provisiorrof apackage opening device which is relatively simple and inexpensive inconstruction and efllcient for the purpose intended. Other objects andadvantages will be'apparent from the following description and appendedclaims.

' convenient of paper board or the like. 7 a This strip is of Ir'ec-E'tangularfformation at "one endwhile' the olil bsi t e end portion is cutem nent to form a pair I of complementary guide channels I5, f orrnefdby bending-marginal po'rtio'ns' of the strip upwardly and inwardly} {Asshown to'; advantage:"at; Figures"? and'B -theSe guide'channels ar'e'ari-' ranged insp'ac'ed apart parallel arrangementand at an obliqueinclination'to the-"lon itudinal ex tent of the strip, the end portionof-the stripfbe-f tween the outer ends of the channel'sfbeing shapedto=provide 'a concave arcuate recess [6;

the invention is the In describing my inventionin detail, reference willbe had to the accompanying drawing illustrating a practical adaptationof the invention; a

the same,

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the support member of the device, andI Figure 4 is a perspective view of the cutting element of the device.

, With reference to the drawing, wherein like characters of referencedenote corresponding parts throughout the several views, P generallydesignates a package of the type commonly employed for packing ofcigarettes embodying a paper wrapper having relatively wide front andrear sides Illand ll, narrow end walls I2 and top and bottom walls l3.The top or covering wall I3 is conventionally formed by imfolding of theside and end wall extensions as illustrated in Figure 1 and the entirewrapper is quite commonly covered by a transparent covering which may beformed of Cellophane.

My invention particularly refers to a device to be enclosed within thetop portion of the package P and embodies a support member S consistingage in its customary upright position the stripis disposed horizontallybetween the upper ends The obliquely directed endportionof thestiip I 4isladapted to carryth'ereon a cutter blade" B embodying a'flatf'relativelyf thin bladef'section formed of metal or the like." Atone en'd'the blade B isof rectangular formation-as indicated Lat I!:having "relatively short parallel side edges I8 whi le -the oppositeend' has adiminishingtrans Verse taper forming rela'tivll long v-Shapedpointed end section IS. The relatively longicon '1 verging and inclinedside edges 20 of the'p ointed, section It! are roughened 'or serratedfor-cutting. through the package, as will hereinafter appear. I I

Adjacent the outer pointed end the blade B is provided with a roundaperture 2| adapted to receive therethrough the end portions of a cord22, the said end portions being knotted at one "side of the aperture soas to preclude passage of thecord therethrough and forming arelative 1ylarge loop at the opposite side of the blade. f

When employed in association'with a package,

for example a cigarette package indicated P, the: support strip 14 isfitted within the upper portion of the package between the top wall Band the end of the cigarettes, that is, with the packof the cigarettesand the top, asillustrated to advantage in Figure 2. horizontally on theoblique guide end portion of the strip withthe parallelside edges l8;slidablyengaging the grooves in the channels l5 andithe point of the Tblade directed outwardly thereof against the interior corner portion-ofthe package;

The loop ZIattachedto the outer endfo f the blade is projected through asmall aperture in.

the corner of the-package and extendsiexteriorly thereof." p

When the purchaser desires to open pack age he grasps the projectingloop22 and quickly.

pullsthe same outwardly in a plane approxi-. mately parallel with theplaneof the package top I3, this sudden movement sliding the blade Theblade B is fitted B outwardly of the guide portion of the support stripand through the walls of the package so as to cut a slit in the cornerthereof, the tapered cutting edges 20 of the blade severing the upperportion of one side wall l immediately below the top 13 and the adjacentportion of the contiguous end wall l2. This cutting action severs acorner of the top l3 from the adjacent portions of the side and endwalls thereof so that such corner top portion may be readily bentupwardly to provide an opening suitable for removal of one or morecigarettes from the package, which corner portion of the top may be bentdown thereafter to cover the removal opening.

Thus, the pulling of the blade from the guide portion of the supportstrip in the package effects the cutting of a strip of predeterminedlength at the corner of the package to define an opening section of thecover of predetermined dimensionswhich will facilitate the removal ofcigarettes; from the package with a minimum of exposure of the contentsof the package.

It is to be understood that the invention is not confined to thespecific construction, arrangement or use illustrated and described andthat considerable modification may be made therein within the spirit ofthe invention as defined by the appended claims. 7 r

I claim: I

1. A device of the character described comprising a stiff support striphaving a pair of channels formed at one end portion, the said channelsbeing disposed in parallel opposed positions at an oblique inclinationon the strip, a flat blade having a rectangular shaped inner portionslidably fitted on the stripwith the side edges engaging the saidchannels, the said strip having aitapered end portion having divergingcutting edges, and a pull element attached to the pointed end of theblade for pulling the same along the guide channels and outwardlythereof to effect cutting action.

2. In a package opening device, a stiff strip adapted to be fittedparallel with the top of the package and adjacent to the said top, thesaid strip having side portions bent upwardly and inwardly to formparallel guide channels, the said channels being directed at an obliqueangle to the body: of the strip, anda flat blade slidably associatedwith the channels of the strip and tapering to a point at one end forpulling through the corner of the package and cutting a slit. therein.

3.,In an opening device for a rectangular shaped'package having aseverable wrapper, an elongated stiff strip mounted parallel with andadjacent the top of the package, a pair of parallel channels formed onan end portion of the strip and disposed at an oblique inclination tothe longitudinal extent of the strip, aflat blade having an innerrectangular portion slidably fitted on; the strip and having its opposedside marginaliportions slidably engaging the chain nels, the said bladehaving an opposit end portion tapering to a point having divergingcutting edges, the pointed end of the blade being directed toa cornerportion of the package. and a loop of flexible material connected .to.the tapered end portion of the blade and extended through an aperture inthe corner of the package whereby the said blade may be pulled in aplane parallel with the top of the package throughthe guide channels andthrough the adjacent walls of the package to cute slit in the cornerthereof to define a portion of the cover which may be ent upwardly toform an openingin the package,

CHARLES C, LEHMER.

